Why a 900-Year-Old Hotel Is Offering Google Glass as a Perk

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What's the one thing a nearly 900-year-old hotel in Spain needs to attract guests in 2014? Google Glass, of course!

courtesy LeDomaine

What's the one thing a nearly 900-year-old hotel in Spain needs to attract guests in 2014? Google Glass—at least according to Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine, a converted abbey first built in 1146 set in the country's Duero wine region about two hours north of Madrid that landed on the Condé Nast TravelerHot List in 2012.

The hotel says it's the first in Europe to offer the wearable tech, with eight pairs of the internet-connected specs available. A few properties in the U.S. have started loaning Glass to guests, including the Stanford Court in San Francisco and the ACME Hotel in Chicago, though such an amenity is still a rarity—not to mention a somewhat niche reason to book a particular property. (Some hotels are also considering outfitting staff with Glass to improve customer service.)

On top of the standard Glass software, which lets you record first-person perspective videos, quickly capture photos, easily get directions, and translate menus and signage, LeDomaine has pre-loaded its devices with a video art tour explaining the various works around the resort-style property, which spans more than 1,700 acres, including guest rooms and suites, a two Michelin star restaurant, and a forthcoming spa which will open in 2015.